Warbirds and Wheels, Military aircraft and vintage automobile museum in Wanaka, New Zealand
Warbirds and Wheels was a museum with combat aircraft, classic automobiles, and motorcycles from the early 20th century located in a large facility at Wanaka Airport. The collection included vehicles of various types and decades displayed across exhibition halls.
Warbirds and Wheels operated from 2011 to 2021 as a successor to the earlier New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum. It brought together the collection of military aircraft and motor vehicles under a new institutional roof.
The collection displayed rare vehicles from different eras, including a 1934 Duesenberg Model J, the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Visitors could view these historic automobiles and motorcycles up close and learn about their backgrounds.
The location was easily accessible from central Wanaka and sat on the airport grounds, making it straightforward for visitors with their own transport to find. The museum welcomed group visits from various organizations including community clubs and educational institutions.
The museum allowed visitors to ride in registered vintage vehicles that were kept in working condition and maintained to safety standards. This rare opportunity meant experiencing history firsthand rather than simply observing it from a distance.
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